Riley: New communications technology will assist emergency responders throughout the state

With Colorado summertime comes the surge in wildfires across the state, which we have already seen in recent months. We all remember the Waldo Canyon Fire of 2012 followed by the Black Forest Fire of 2013 — the most destructive fire in the state’s history. When wildfires pose a hazard to both rural areas and Colorado’s cities and towns, firefighters rush in from around Colorado and other states to save homes and communities.

Having previously served as a wildland strike team leader over five engines and a division group supervisor, I know firsthand what is it like on the ground during a wildfire: visibility is reduced, and firefighters and rescue workers can easily become disoriented. In instances of high winds, the fire line is a fast moving target. It is during these times that public safety’s ability to communicate with each other and the public is vital to saving lives and property.

On a normal day, the general public is already placing unprecedented demand on cellular networks to access the Internet, stream videos and use social media or other apps. But during high-volume times — such as disasters or large public gatherings — usage spikes and commercial networks can reach capacity, just when first responders need it most for vital, life-saving communication.

This means many departments are not able to use advanced technologies to send valuable information to any out-of-town firefighters or gain access to the most up-to-date firefighting technology tools, such as digital mapping technologies. Instead, they have to compete with commercial users to get a signal on the network.

In addition, incompatible or outdated communications systems can sometimes impede emergency response coordination. This came to national attention after the Sept. 11 attacks and has also stymied Colorado’s first responders’ efforts for decades. Following the unusually devastating series of wildfires that impacted much of the state in 2012, a governor-appointed expert team convened to discuss ways to better respond to fires in the future. The team identified that many radio systems were incompatible and ineffective, with some ceasing to operate in Colorado’s High Country.

More help is on the way for public safety communications in the state through an innovative public-private partnership between the First Responder Network Authority — called FirstNet — and AT&T. They are developing a dedicated, state-of-the-art network that will modernize first responders’ communications and deliver specialized features that are not available to them on commercial wireless networks today.

This means that soon, emergency response teams from around the state and country will, for the first time, be able to coordinate and connect their systems and devices on a single mobile broadband platform.

The FirstNet Network will enable incident commanders to quickly receive and analyze data from the front lines and then make decisions immediately. The overall benefits, particularly for the public’s safety, will be huge. With ubiquitous and reliable broadband coverage, FirstNet will enable the use of live tracking via E911 online mapping tools that include satellite imagery, topography, and road and trail maps. This will allow incident commanders to quickly redirect resources and firefighters to stop the flames from causing more damage.

The next step to ensure that FirstNet is available in your community is for each state, including Colorado, to elect to “opt in” to this secure, resilient, and interoperable wireless broadband system. Doing so will open the door for FirstNet and AT&T to immediately begin delivering services to Colorado’s first responders. Opting in will give emergency teams a better and certainly more affordable way to share crucial data during emergencies. An added benefit of this opt-in decision is that the network is financially self-sustaining and will never require additional taxpayer dollars.

A recent investigation of first responder communication problems noted that America’s 65,000 public-safety agencies “still rely on a patchwork of radio systems that are often incompatible with each other.” It’s exciting to see the federal government work with private sector to resolve this problem. Colorado should adopt the FirstNet solution to help all of our first responders — better protect us and prepare for and respond to natural disasters like wildfires.

Chief Christopher P. Riley is a 35-year fire service veteran. Riley previously served as fire chief in Colorado Springs and Pueblo. His years in the fire service include experience in command, emergency and fire/rescue operations, wildland/urban interface and structural firefighting, and emergency medical services.